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Refrain vs Constraint - What's the difference?

refrain | constraint |

As nouns the difference between refrain and constraint

is that refrain is while constraint is something that constrains.

refrain

English

Etymology 1

From a combination of (etyl) refraindre, (etyl) refreindre (from (etyl) refrangere), and (etyl) refrener, (etyl) refrener (from (etyl) refrenare).

Verb

(en verb)
  • (archaic) To hold back, to restrain (someone or something).
  • * Proverbs i:15 .
  • Refrain thy foot from their path.
  • (reflexive, archaic) To show restraint; to hold oneself back.
  • * 1526 , (William Tyndale), trans. Bible , Acts V:
  • And nowe I saye unto you: refrayne youreselves from these men, and let them alone [...].
  • *
  • his reson aperceyueth it wel that it is synne / agayns the lawe of god / and yet his reson / refreyneth nat his foul delit or talent.
  • * Bible, Proverbs i. 15
  • Refrain thy foot from their path.
  • To stop oneself (from) some action or interference; to abstain.
  • * Bible, Acts v. 38
  • Refrain from these men, and let them alone.
  • * Sir Thomas Browne
  • They refrained therefrom [eating flesh] some time after.
  • *
  • Who, requiring a remedy for his gout, received no other counsel than to refrain cold drink.

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) refrain, from the (etyl) verb . See refract and the verb refrain.

    Noun

    (wikipedia refrain) (en noun)
  • The chorus or burden of a song repeated at the end of each verse or stanza.
  • We hear the wild refrain . Whittier.
  • A much repeated comment, complaint, or saying.
  • References

    *

    Anagrams

    * ----

    constraint

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Something that constrains.
  • (mathematics) A condition that a solution to an optimization problem must satisfy.
  • A restriction.
  • Derived terms

    * constraint satisfaction